Charter 2000 Annual Report Download - page 29

27 CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
ANALOG p. 12
Analog channels refer to communication channels on
which the information is transmitted in a non-digital
format, which means data is transmitted in a manner
similar to the original signals.
BANDWIDTH p. 10
A measure of the information-carrying capacity of
a communication channel. It is the range of usable
frequencies that can be carried by a cable system.
BROADBAND p. 2
A communications network, such as a cable system,
with high bandwidth capacity. It is capable of delivering
multiple high-capacity services such as Internet access,
telephone service, digital video, and analog video.
CABLE MODEM p. 7
Device that can be attached to personal computers
enabling users to send and receive data.
COAXIAL CABLE p. 11
A type of cable used for broadband data and cable systems.
This type of cable has excellent broadband frequency
characteristics, noise immunity and physical durability.
DIGITAL p. 3
Information that has been converted into ‘bits’ of data
that are transmitted through a broadband communication
system, allowing simultaneous transmission of video,
voice, and data.
DIGITAL CABLE p. 3
An enhanced tier of cable TV that offers additional
video channels, multiplexing of premium channels,
uninterrupted music channels, and a digital interactive
on-screen programming guide, as well as other enhanced
services, through digital compression technology.
FIBER p. 11
Fiber optic cable is a communication medium that
uses hair-thin glass fibers to transmit signals over long
distances with minimum signal loss or distortion.
HOMES PASSED p. 11
The number of homes that could potentially be served
by an existing cable system without extending the
plant’s reach.
INTERNET PROTOCOL (IP) TELEPHONY p. 15
An emerging technology that enables voice, data and
video transmission over the Internet. IP telephony allows
organizations and individuals to lower the costs of existing
services, such as voice and broadcast video, while at the
same time broadening their means of communication to
include modern video conferencing, application sharing,
and whiteboarding tools.
MEGAHERTZ (MHZ) p. 11
A measure of bandwidth capacity. A unit of frequency
denoting one million Hz or one million cycles per second.
NODE p. 11
A single connection to a cable system’s main high-capacity
fiber optic cable that is shared by a number of customers.
PORTAL p. 15
An Internet web site that serves as a user’s initial point
of entry to the World Wide Web. By offering selected
content, services and links to other web sites, a portal
guides and directs users through the World Wide Web
and can generate revenues from the sale of advertising
on its own web pages and through sharing revenues
generated by linked or featured web sites.
PRO FORMA p. 3
Pro forma financial results for Charter are calculated as if
all acquisitions completed during 1999 and 2000 had been
completed on January 1, 1999. Pro forma results provide
a basis for making year-to-year comparisons of financial
performance of the same cable systems.
SAME STORE p. 7
A year-to-year comparison of results, such as revenues
or cash flow, based on systems that Charter has owned for
each period reported. Same store results provide a measure
of internal growth and eliminate the effect of acquisitions.
VIDEO ON DEMAND p. 4
Television programming provided upon request. Generally,
this allows a customer to choose a movie from a library
of films and select the title and start time immediately on
request. It also offers VCR-like features to the customer
during the delivery of the video.
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